The magic didn’t end with the final frame of The Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Warner Bros. has found new ways to engage the billion-dollar Harry Potter fan base that loved JK Rowling‘s books and the hugely popular movie adaptations. There are the Harry Potter theme parks, one in Orlando, with others in the works. And this past March, Warner Bros. opened their massive studio complex in Leavesden, 20 miles outside of London, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the world of the series.

Visitors to this three-hour, self-guided tour can explore the sets and props of the movie, including the massive Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle, the storefronts of Diagon Alley (see above), Hagrid’s cabin and motorcycle, the boys’ dorm, and models of the creatures. The tour also promises “exciting hands-on interactive exhibits,” as well as a look at the special effects and animatronics behind the films. Despite all the largesse, the focal point of the tour for many is the scaled model of Hogwarts castle, featuring 3,000 fiber optic lights.

The Daily Telegraph noted that the tour was pricey — £21 for kids, £28 for adults over 16 — but added “the tour is a must-see for Potter fans and a fitting monument to the team who created Britain’s most successful film franchise.”

This story has multiple pages:

Kevin Wicks

Kevin Wicks founded BBCAmerica.com's Anglophenia blog back in 2005 and has been translating British culture for an American audience ever since. While not British himself—he was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri—he once received inordinate hospitality in London for sharing the name of a dead but beloved EastEnders character. His Anglophilia stems from a high school love of Morrissey, whom he calls his "gateway drug" into British culture.